Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-05-28
A Sleighride Fifty Years Ago.

uTo. lldrElo, VI " luOW lldliiSJ %
she was usually called, lived in the
outskirts of the village OF BIN little
low, wood-colored house. Since the
death OF her husband, which occurred
soon after they had come to this place
to live, she had supported herself by
going around among families OF the
town as nurse, seamstress. or to as
sist at weddings, parties ana funerals.
This itinerant sort OF life had given
her an opportunity to become ac-
quainted with much OF the family his
tory OF the people of B.. She could
give the exact date OF most of the
births, marriages and deaths that oc-
Cured in the town within the last
twenty years. But now she was too
old to 60 about in this way, and was
glad to get work to do at nome, and
was usually busy making rugs or
weaving carpets.
The widow was sitting by the fire,
one pleasant winter day, knitting on
a red mitten, when there came rap
at her door. Fastening to open it.,
she found a pretty girl waiting for ad-
mission.
Come right in, Helen" she said. 81
am proper glad to see you. Now you
must take your things right off, she
continued, as Helen Weston stepped
into the kitchen, 'for you have come
after Welie's mittens and they amt
quite done"
"Yes," said Helen, mother asked
me to come and get the mittens. She
thought they would be finished"
"Well. Ishould have had them done,
but Mrs. Brown sent in last night for
me to make her some cough syrup.
She's got an awful cough, and spent
all the evening fusslng with it, but /
can finish them in an hour"
"Oh, l don't mind waiting" said
Helen, seating herself IN nice, old
fashioned rocking chair by the tlre,
while Tim, the great tortoiseshell cat,
purred out his content on the rug at
her feet.
The widow Harris was Il favorite
with the young people OF the village.
They enjoyed going to see her, and
they were sure to be treated to a
. lunch of election cake. seed cakes,
or long, spicy, twisted doughnuts.
But best of all wereh her stories. Such
nice old.fashioned stories about we'd
dings. huskings, apple bees, and all
kinds OF country frolics.
Alter Helen had answered Mrs. Har-
ris' inquiries, as far as she knew, in
regard to the health and general news
of the village, she said, Nov, Mrs.
Harris, please tell me one of your nice
stories"
"Bless your heart, dear, seems to
me have told you all the stories !
know"
20, ! am sure you haven't, if you
will only think"
'Well, made some election cake
this morning, and while you are eat
ing some will see what 1 can think
OF to tell you," and Mrs. Harris went
into the pantry, returning with plate
of cake, which she placed on the stan /
near Helen, telling her to help herself.
Let me see-I have told you about
Mary Goodwin's wedding, and MIS-.
Wells house-warming, haven't I?''
said Mrs. Harris, as she took up her
knitting again.
"fes you told me those stories when
WAS here one day last summer"
ii guess l shall have to tell you
about the sleighride we had over in
Chester, when | was a girl. / was
thinking about it this morning. 1t
happened more than fifty years ago,
but | remember about it just as if it
was last week"
THE young folks in the village had
been planning ever since snow came to
have a sleighride down to Morse's tav.
crn, that was about ten miles from
lhester, and have q supper and dance
The time was set to go about the mid.
dIe OF January, when there would be
full moon.
I'VE girls had great time fixing ur
something to wear, but, dear me, W,
lid not have things as girls do now
There were not many of us who haC
anything better than homespun, with
ont it was Nancy Holmes. She haC
s.me money. She was an orphan
When her folks died she came to Ches
ter TO live with her cousin, SPUR,
iiassett, who was her guardian. ST.,
had two boughten calico gowns, anf
beautiful green Canton Grape, and 6
beaver bonnet with a long plume on it
Squire Bassett was the richest
man in town. He lived in a great
two-story house, painted white, ant
such a beautiful garden, iull of rose
and peonies. hcllyhocks and pinks
and there were currant and goose
berry bushes, and all kinds of herbs
parsley, caraway, coriander, sage
and summer savory, and a great or
chard stretched away up the hill bacl
o. the house. 1t was fxei up nice in
side the house, too. for those days
The parlor walls were stained yellow
with a border of flowers done with
black paint, and there was an English
carpet. the only one in town, and 6
sofa, and in the Fireplace stood som,
great brass andirons, but the parlol
wasn't any better according than the
rest OF the house. 1t was full OF every
thing nice. Mrs. Bassett kept Cir
spinning fax all the time, and such
piles OF towels, table and bed linen as
she had Iguess you will think am
Eeyer going to g2t to the sleighride,
but ] am coming toit."
"0h. l enjoy Hearing about the way
they lived 80 long ago. 1t must have
it@ss tn 10 spin on those little flax
4 |s.rI, 4ofbef hiss one IN the attic
<<1.< <11n 3&nn6 - 4 Z. 70